Toys on Tap

Drew joins Toys on Tap to talk about QUZU Critters, a new electronic toy that lets you discover collectible creatures and more hiding inside everyday QR codes. What started as something Drew wanted to build with his son quickly turned into something much bigger. We talk about: • Growing up with weird '90s electronic toys • Pokémon, Barcode Battlers, and scanner toys • Building the first prototype...

Scott Cherry of Barbarian Rage is back and somehow we had to record this episode TWICE. This time we dig into a year of conventions, creative obsession, GWAR, black velvet paintings, and the biggest toy Scott has tackled yet: The Destroyer. We talk about: • Going all-in on conventions this year • WonderFest, Kaiju Go, and KaijuFornia • Sculpting The Destroyer as if it were his last toy • Entering...

Neil Ewing of Bombastic Plastic is back, and this one goes everywhere. Fresh off a trip to Japan, Neil joins Toys on Tap for a brutally open conversation about what it actually takes to survive as an independent toy maker. We talk about: • Selling toys in Japan vs. the U.S. • Why some conventions just aren’t worth it • Losing $2,800 at a show • Original IP vs. “art hacks” • Pricing toys realistica...

Space Rabbit Studio joins Toys on Tap to talk about turning a creative escape into their full-time life. They started Space Rabbit with no business plan, just two creatives who wanted somewhere to make their own work. Then a logo became a character. The character became a resin toy. And eventually they quit their jobs and went all in. We talk about: • Growing up with Care Bears and giant robots in...

Tattoo artist and toy maker Chris Reed of Creeder Toys joins Toys on Tap to talk about what happens when decades of tattoos, horror movies, Japanese art, vintage toys, and monster obsession all collide. Chris started apprenticing as a teenager and has spent nearly 30 years tattooing—but eventually collecting turned into sculpting, mask making, resin casting, monster banks, and finally sofubi. We t...

Bob Johnson of Bay Area Film Events joins Toys on Tap to talk about the wild evolution of Godzilla Fest, from a seven-day movie marathon to a full-blown convention. Bob has spent decades turning the movies he loves into experiences people remember. We talk about: • Discovering Godzilla and Ultraman as a kid • The first Godzilla Fest in 2004 • Hosting legendary actors, directors, and suit performer...

Bullmart founders Jerry and Shiti join Toys on Tap to talk about building a collectible that doesn’t really fit into any existing category. It’s leather. It’s weighted. It uses magnets. It comes with premium packaging and a handwritten letter, and it was created by a team new to toys. We talk about: • Why Jerry wanted to make a bull • Designing for adult male collectors • Turning ambition into a p...

Kaiju Go co-founder Chaz joins Toys on Tap to break down how two friends turned a love of kaiju films and toys into one of the most talked-about small toy events around. And the philosophy is simple: throw a great party and take care of the artists. We talk about: • Growing up obsessed with dinosaurs and monsters • Starting Kaiju Go in 2023 • Combining designer toys with classic kaiju films • Why...

WhiskeyJack Toys founder joins Toys on Tap to talk about the brutal, expensive, and incredibly rewarding reality of making 3.75-inch action figures. Darren wanted to make toys since discovering G.I. Joe as a kid, but getting there included lost molds, failed production runs, a $100,000 factory disaster, and one very expensive education. We talk about: • Falling in love with G.I. Joe • Buying his f...

Photographer, collector, and first-time toy maker Robert of Manic joins Toys on Tap for a deep dive into the obsession behind the collection. From Godzilla, horror movies, skateboarding, and photography to spending $320 on designer vinyl on day one, Robert’s path into toys went from zero to full rabbit hole FAST. We talk about: • Discovering Kidrobot and blind boxes • Falling hard for sofubi • Own...

Egyptian artist Marwan Shahin joins Toys on Tap to tell the wild story of how one piece of street art completely changed his life. During the Egyptian Revolution, Marwan created the Anonymous Pharaoh, a stencil that became a symbol of the uprising, landed in museums, and eventually helped launch an international art career. We talk about: • Growing up and collecting toys in Egypt • Creating the An...

Fixed Temple Toys joins Toys on Tap to talk nostalgia, street art, resin casting, and the strange little creatures taking over his world: the Glorbles. What started as stickers and woodcuts grew into resin toys, sofubi, costumes, videos, secret codes, and a full sci-fi universe packed with agents, cults, robots, and soul-sucking blobs. We talk about: • Dragon Ball Z, Spawn, and Jurassic Park • Ska...

Blake Wright, publisher and editor-in-chief of Toy Collector magazine, joins Toys on Tap to talk Star Wars, lost toy history, and keeping print alive. Blake shares how a childhood love of action figures grew into a journalism career, the Toys That Time Forgot book trilogy, and a magazine built to sit proudly beside the toys on your shelf. We talk about: • Growing up with the original Star Wars toy...

Illustrator, toy designer, filmmaker, and lifelong storyteller Chogrin joins Toys on Tap to trace a creative journey shaped by two cultures and an unstoppable love of characters. Growing up in Ecuador, Chogrin absorbed everything from Super Sentai and Japanese heroes to Ghostbusters, Ninja Turtles, and classic rubber-hose animation. After moving to the United States and starting over, he turned th...

Steven Nunes, aka Steve Beef the “Sofubi Shy Guy", joins Toys on Tap to talk horror, collecting, and the creation of M.U.D. Toys. Steven traces his obsession from Ninja Turtles, Goosebumps, vintage masks, and early sofubi discoveries in New York to partnering with longtime friend and turning their monster ideas into Japanese vinyl. We talk about: • Discovering sofubi at the Mishka store • Collecti...

In this episode, Andrew, also known as Spaceboi, returns to Toys on Tap to talk about the evolution of Space Boi and the growing universe around the character. Since his last appearance, Spaceboi has expanded far beyond one figure. What started as different versions of Space Boi has grown into Space Girl, Space God, plushies, resin toys, sofubi, vehicles, mechs, blind bags, and large-scale booth d...

In part two of this conversation, Quang Le shares the story behind the creation and evolution of Creature Bazaar. After years spent collecting toys, building relationships, and learning the industry from the inside, Quang and Brandon turned an idea into one of the most recognizable names in the sofubi community. Quang discusses traveling throughout Japan to meet artists where they lived, launching...

Quang Le joins the show for part one of a two-part conversation about collecting, creativity, and the foundation that eventually led to Creature Bazaar . Before Creature Bazaar and SummerSlime, Quang was a lifelong toy collector shaped by Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Japanese robot cartoons, Asian market imports, punk shows, D&D, photography, fashion, and underground art culture. We talk about...

Mike Die joins the show to share the journey that led him from New York graffiti artist to creator of the Rock Protectors toy line. Growing up surrounded by He-Man, Battle Beasts, Transformers, and Ninja Turtles, Mike always dreamed of making toys. After years spent in graffiti, custom Dunnys, street art, and enamel pins, he eventually found his way back to action figures through 3D printing and c...

Tony Coppolillo (SioPio) joins the show to share his incredible creative journey from architecture student to Hollywood movie poster artist, visual effects professional, and independent toy creator. Over the course of his career, Tony has contributed to major film campaigns, worked in visual effects, taught 3D design, and eventually discovered a passion for bringing his own characters and ideas in...

Brandon of Motley Miscreations joins the show to discuss his journey from childhood toy collector to professional sculptor, resin caster, and independent toy maker. Growing up with Battle Beasts, TMNT, Batman, comics, and video games, Brandon always had a passion for art and creativity. After studying fine art, working in illustration and video games, and eventually discovering the designer toy sc...

Mimor Toys steps on the stage to talk about handmade soft vinyl toys, learning sofubi production from scratch, and building an entirely analog toy-making process out of a garage in Southern California. Inspired by Kidrobot, Dunnys, Webkinz, Club Penguin, and DIY maker culture, Mimor grew up obsessed with toys as art objects before eventually teaching themself mold making, welding, electroplating,...

Toy designer and illustrator Zander Miner joins the show to talk about turning original characters into collectible toys. Inspired by cartoons like Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, Teen Titans, and Regular Show, Zander grew up wanting to become an animator and artist. After studying illustration at RISD, he eventually discovered toy design and began sculpting his own original figures, including Orio...

Toy maker and sculptor Ehimo joins the show to talk about his journey from vintage toy collector to internationally recognized independent creator. Growing up in Spain surrounded by TMNT, Street Sharks, Warhammer, and role-playing games, Ehimo developed an obsession with toys and miniature painting early on. That passion eventually evolved into custom figures, bootlegs, sculpting, and fully origin...

Danny and Esther join the show to share the story behind their original toy line and upcoming Kickstarter. Danny, a longtime artist who has worked on major animated films, opens up about a difficult moment in his career that led him back to creating for himself. What started as a personal reset quickly turned into a full lineup of original characters, world-building, and eventually physical toy pr...